Girdling at Bullens Wood - a management technique to thin trees
Hugh Dorrington has been involved in tree supply and woodland planting since 1980. In this blog, he discusses his experience with girdling at Bullens Wood.
Updated: Tue Dec 12 2023
New area added to licensing scheme to protect great crested newts and promote sustainable development
Natural England has launched a new licensing scheme in Hertfordshire to help conserve local populations of great crested newts, while promoting sustainable development. Since Natural England launched District Level Licensing (DLL) in 2019, the scheme has expanded to cover 21 ...
Updated: Tue Dec 12 2023
30 by 30: a boost for nature recovery
Written by James Markwick Principal Adviser, Biodiversity Policy After a year of extreme weather events in which many climate records were broken, world leaders met in Dubai to discuss tackling climate change at COP28, with the hope of keeping alive ...
Updated: Mon Dec 11 2023
Apply now for grant to support private investment in nature
At the end of November, we shared details of a grant designed to help farmers attract private investment into nature. We said we'd blog again when it was time to apply and we're pleased to say that from today, you can.
Updated: Mon Dec 11 2023
COP28: Government confirms Supermarket essentials will no longer be linked to illegal deforestation
Today we are looking at media coverage of the announcements the government made on Nature Day at COP28.
Updated: Mon Dec 11 2023
Unlimited financial penalties for environmental offences will mean "polluters always pay."
Companies who breach their environmental permits now face unlimited financial penalties following major changes to Variable Monetary Penalties (VMPs).
Updated: Mon Dec 11 2023
Expanding the concept of 'blue carbon': Cefas science on coastal ecosystems and their role in tackling climate change
The importance of mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems in mitigating the impacts of climate change is once again high on the agenda at this year's Nature, Land-use, and Oceans Day at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai. ...
Updated: Fri Dec 08 2023
National Tree Week 2023
Sir William Worsley is Chair of the Forestry Commission. In this blog he looks at why we are calling on the public to Grow a Tree in 2023.
Updated: Fri Dec 08 2023
Why woodland management is key to nature recovery
Kate Tobin, our Nature Recovery Policy Advisor, talks about the importance of managing our woodlands to support nature recovery and increase wider benefits.
Updated: Fri Dec 08 2023
Creating a lasting legacy of accessible woodlands and forests
As the Woodland Access Implementation Plan is published Alison Hallas, Woodland Access Advisor at the Forestry Commission, sets out why public access to woodlands is so important.
Updated: Thu Dec 07 2023
Farming regulation from the new year
As part of the agricultural transition away from the European Union (EU), we're committed to delivering a better regulation system for farming. At the moment, farmers who receive payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and some other agri-environment schemes must meet minimum standards to receive those payments. This is known as cross compliance. Cross compliance will end 31 December 2023. We've published guidance about what this means for farmers and land managers on GOV.UK.
Updated: Thu Dec 07 2023
Livestock and grassland webinar follow up
On Monday 20 November, we held a webinar for livestock and grassland farmers. If you missed the webinar, don't worry. In this post, I'll share a link to the recording. I'll also include the top questions farmers put to us and a summary of the offer for those farm types.
Updated: Thu Dec 07 2023
Watch Bodbury Farm: our experience accessing free business advice
Through the Farming Resilience Fund, farmers and land managers who receive BPS payments can access free, independent business advice. In this film, we travel to Shropshire to meet rare breed pig farmers Sarah and Byron Odell. Together with their adviser Karen Fisher, they describe their business objectives and the advice they were given.
Updated: Thu Dec 07 2023
Internships with the Regulated Industry team - Dharanija's story.
In the final blog in our internship series, Dharanija, an MSc Computer Science student from the University of Nottingham explains how interning has helped them in the next step on their career path.
Updated: Wed Dec 06 2023
Landscape Recovery: sharing the successful second round projects
In this post, I'm pleased to share the 34 successful projects in the second round of Landscape Recovery. This £25 million round will fund 12 more projects than the previous round, demonstrating our commitment to funding that delivers environmental benefits in harmony with food production.
Updated: Wed Dec 06 2023
Annual health and welfare review of livestock now available to more farmers in England
I am pleased to tell you that the annual health and welfare review of livestock is now open to non-BPS registered farmers, meaning more livestock keepers in England can now apply. Through the Review, farmers who keep cattle, sheep and pigs can get funding to pay for a vet to visit their farm and carry out a yearly review.
Updated: Tue Dec 05 2023
Supporting seed supply across the nation's forests and beyond.
David Bole is Head of Sector Capacity and Green Economy at Forestry Commission. In this blog he looks at the work we are doing to ensure we have a resilient, diverse, and bio-secure supply of tree seed.
Updated: Tue Dec 05 2023
Collaboration and progress through Cefas' Climate, Health, and Environment Resilience Programme in the Middle East
Our Climate, Health, and Environment Resilience Programme (CHERP) has recently kicked off another year of activity in the Middle East. With the UN Climate Change COP28 currently underway in the region, we are taking a look back at what we ...
Updated: Mon Dec 04 2023
Coverage of XL Bully definition
Today we are looking at media coverage around the definition of an XL Bully type dog.
Updated: Mon Dec 04 2023
Environment Agency response to Panorama investigation
Today's blog outlines the Environment Agency's response to an investigation by BBC Panorama
Updated: Mon Dec 04 2023
Further round of the Research Starter competition coming soon
Farmers, growers and foresters in England will soon be able to apply for a share of £850,000 for ideas that improve productivity, sustainability, resilience and move the agricultural sector to net zero. Opening on 18 December, the Research Starter competition offers an entry point to the innovation process for those with bold, ambitious, early-stage ideas. We published guidance for the competition today to help you prepare.
Updated: Mon Dec 04 2023
Professional Forester Apprenticeship: a pathway into your new career in forestry
Applications to the 2024 Professional Forester Apprenticeship are now open. Marcus Ling has just started the apprenticeship programme and is working within the Forestry Commission's South East and London Area Team. He tells us about his experience so far.
Updated: Mon Dec 04 2023
Bathing Waters Annual Classifications 2023
2. Between May and September, millions of people head to bathing waters to swim, which is why the Environment Agency monitors the quality of the water during this period. Today we have published the annual results for 2023 season.
Updated: Fri Dec 01 2023
Coming soon: grants to attract private investment in nature
The Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) will soon offer grants designed to help farmers attract private investment in nature. You'll be able to apply for a grant on 11 December 2023. We've published guidance for the grant on GOV.UK to help you prepare.
Updated: Thu Nov 30 2023
Get involved in tests and trials
We're pleased to announce a fourth call for tests and trials to help us test and further develop our environmental land management schemes. In this post, I'll share what we plan to explore, how you can apply and details of an upcoming webinar.
Updated: Thu Nov 30 2023